Instagram hits 300m users – 70m photos and videos uploaded daily

Instagram, the photo-sharing app bought by Facebook two years ago for US$1bn, has hit 300m Instagrammers. To mark the occasion, Instagram is rolling out new verification badges and culling spammy accounts.

The Instagram community now shares more than 70m photos and videos every day.

“We’re thrilled to watch this community thrive and witness the amazing connections people make over shared passions and journeys,” CEO Kevin Systrom wrote in the company’s blog.

To celebrate the milestone, Instagram has announced verified badges for celebrities, athletes and brands to ensure authenticity.

Systrom said users need to know if the person they are following really is former professional skateboarder and actorTony Hawk, for example.

He added that Instagram is working to rid the photo network of fake and spammy accounts to ensure it remains a place where people share real moments.

“We’ve been deactivating spammy accounts from Instagram on an ongoing basis to improve your experience. As part of this effort, we will be deleting these accounts forever, so they will no longer be included in follower counts. This means that some of you will see a change in your follower count.

“Most of you won’t see any impact. If you’re one of those who will see a correction, you will receive a notification in the app directing you to additional information,” Systrom said.